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| grov·el [ gróvv'l, grúvv'l ] (past and past participle grov·eled, present participle grov·el·ing, 3rd person present singular grov·els) |
intransitive verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. behave in servile way: to act in a servile way, showing exaggerated and false respect in order to please somebody or out of fear
  I've already apologized, but now he wants me to grovel.
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2. crawl: to crawl or lie face down on the ground in humility or fear
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3. wallow: to indulge in something unworthy
(
literary
)
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| [Late 19th century. < obsolete groof "with face downward" < Old Norse á grúfu< grúfa "proneness"] |
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| grov·el·er noun |
| grov·el·ing·ly adverb |
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